spacious skies - 16. peacefully

by american joe

part 16 of 40

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some kind of contraption that looked like a cross between a sherman tank and a county courthouse pulled up beside turtle as he was heading to baxter’s creek in the rain and mud. someone or something covered in a yellow oilskin got out and stood in turtle’s way. good afternoon, mister pelwood. what is good about it? and how do you know it is afternoon? could be any dang time way that sky is. now, mister pelwood, there is no point in your putting on your cantankerous old curmudgeon act. you did not answer the last questionnaire the department sent you so we had no choice but to come out here in this inclement weather and bring you in to answer your - our - questions. you expect me to believe that? you just don’t want me to catch old reilly, that is what you want. all you dang bureaucrats want is to protect old reilly and keep a poor man from fulfilling his destiny. i know you. we don’t want to stand here in the rain all day, mister pelwood. what looked like a small pistol appeared in the gloved hand of the oilskin covered creature. go on, you ain’t going to shoot me. it does not contain bullets. it will just knock you out so that we can bring you in. so you might as well come peacefully. that is what they all say for a thousand years. you all need some new lines. * coffee, mister pelwood? why not? make sure it’s nice and hot. 785-6, get mister pelwood a cup of coffee, please. and make sure it is hot enough for his liking. now mister pelwood, i have your file coming up and we just have a few questions. how many questions is a few? oh… two or three hundred, maybe. why, are you in a hurry to go somewhere? i was until you came along. i can hear old reilly laughing now. next